Jharkhand CM Munda resigns

Deepening the political crisis in the state, Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda on Tuesday submitted his resignation to the governor in Ranchi.

The JMM action came even as the Jharkhand cabinet decided to recommend dissolution of the State Asswembly to prevent any "horse trading-like situation".

JMM leader and deputy chief minister Hemant Soren told reporters at the Raj Bhavan that "We have submitted the letter to the governor and informed him that the JMM's withdrawal has reduced the government to minority." Soren was accompanied by his father JMM supremo Shibu Soren and other party leaders to the Raj Bhavan.

He said Munda cabinet's decision to dissolve the house 'does not stand' as JMM had yesterday itself announced its decision to pull out its support to the BJP-led government over the accord on rotational leadership of the coalition and had faxed a letter to the Raj Bhavan even before the cabinet met.

However, Munda said, "Such letters are not faxed. One should physically submit it to the governor." He has taken appointment with the governor to submit the cabinet's decision on the dissolution of the house.

Earlier in the day Raj Bhavan sources confirmed that JMM had submitted its letter of withdrawal of support to the Arjun Munda-led BJP government.

Munda said the government has sought time from the governor at 11.30am to convey the cabinet decision to recommend dissolution of the house.

"The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting in the morning to prevent any 'horse trading-like situation'," he said.

"Seven ministers (of the coalition government) were present in the cabinet meeting and it was decided to recommend dissolution of the state assembly," Munda said. No JMM member was present at the meeting. The decision, he said, was taken as no national party had openly come forward to provide an alternative government in the wake of the JMM's announcement to pull out of the government.

The BJP, JMM, AJSU and JD(U) had formed the government on September 11, 2010, but ties between BJP and JMM came under strain recently over the rotational leadership issue.